Carton with an improved dispensing feature

• US 6,578,736 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2001
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated, Riverwood International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Riverwood International Corporation
• Inventors: Spivey, Raymond Rudolph
• Primary Examiner(s): Noland, Kenneth W.
• Application Number:
  US09/757,714
• Publication Number:
  US 20020088820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 221/305, 221/303, 221/33, 221/256, 229/221, 229/122.1, 206/427
• US Class Current: 221/305
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/04 Racks or containers with arrangements for dispensing articles , e.g. by means of gravity or springs
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/12 dispensing from the side of an approximately horizontal stack A47F1/087 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 5/112 hand-folded from sheet material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00141 glued
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0045 for hands
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00469 Straps made between two handholes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00549 consisting of fold lines
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0058 The tear line defining a dispensing aperture provided with means for preventing the articles from freely exiting the wrapper, e.g. by rolling out
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/0066 formed from one single sheet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2571/00728 the end walls being closed by gluing
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls

Abstract

A carton with an improved dispenser at one of the carton which preserves the integrity of the carton when the carton is opened by permitting a bottom end flap attached to the bottom panel to remain in place and also a portion of each side end flap that is adjacent to the bottom end flap. This dispenser may also provide a safety net for the first container that is automatically dispensed when the carton is opened.

Claims

1. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top and a bottom row, with each container having a diameter, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. said exiting end having a bottom end flap with a height that is less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row and which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;

c. said exiting end having a tear line for forming a container dispenser opening, said tear line extending through the top panel at a distance spaced from the exiting end and extending at an angle through each side panel towards the exiting end to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap at a distance greater from the top panel than the bottom panel, with a fold line extending through each side end flap at a distance from the bottom panel approximately equal to the height of the bottom end flap, so that when the tear line is torn, a dispenser opening is formed for dispensing the containers, with the dispenser remaining attached to the carton by the fold line through each side end flap, so that the bottom end flap and a portion of each side end flap adjacent to the bottom end flap remain attached to the carton to provide structural integrity to the carton, said dispenser forming a basket for catching containers exiting the carton; and

d. means for closing any end of the carton that is not an exiting end.

2. The carton of claim 1 in which the tear line in the top panel extends away from the exiting end for a portion of its extension across the top panel to form a finger flap foldably attached to the dispenser to facilitate commencing opening the dispenser in the top panel between the first and second containers from the exiting end.

3. The carton of claim 1 in which glue is used to close both ends of the carton.

4. The carton of claim 1 in which there is only one exiting end.

5. The carton of claim 1 in which both ends are exiting ends.

6. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top and bottom row, each container having a diameter, the carton having two ends, at least one of each is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. said exiting end having a bottom end flap with a height that is less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row and which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;

c. said exiting end having a tear line for forming a container dispenser, said tear line extending through the top panel at a distance spaced from the exiting end and extending at an angle through each side panel towards the exiting end to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap at a distance greater from the top panel than the bottom panel, said tear line extending through each side end flap at a distance from the bottom panel approximately equal to the height of the bottom end flap so that an opening for dispensing containers is formed when the tear line is torn, said bottom end flap and the bottom portion of each side end flap remaining attached to the carton to provide structural integrity to the carton; and

d. a means for closing any end of the carton that is not an exiting end.

7. The carton of claim 6 which is only capable of carrying six (6) containers in each row.

8. The carton of claim 6 in which the tear line through the top panel is generally parallel to the exiting end of the carton.

9. The carton of claim 6 in which the tear line in the top panel extends away from the exiting end for a portion of its extension across the top panel to form a finger flap foldably attached to the dispenser to facilitate commencing opening the dispenser in the top panel between the first and second containers from the exiting end.

10. The carton of claim 6 in which glue is used to close both ends of the carton.

11. The carton of claim 6 in which there is only one exiting end.

12. The carton of claim 6 in which both ends are exiting ends.

13. A dispenser for cartons for carrying a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top and bottom row, with each container having a diameter, wherein said carton has two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the dispenser being a part of a carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, a top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. said exiting end having a bottom end flap having a height that is less than the diameter of a container to be contained in the bottom row and which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton; and

c. a means for closing any non-exiting end of the carton wherein said dispenser is formed in the exiting end of the carton, said dispenser having a top wall formed from a portion of the top panel adjacent the exiting end, a side wall formed from a portion of each side panel adjacent the exiting end, said side wall having an edge that extends at an angle towards the exiting end to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap at a distance greater from the top panel than the bottom panel when the dispenser is a part of the carton, and when the dispenser is open it remains attached to the carton, said dispenser forming a basket for catching containers exiting the carton.

14. The dispenser of claim 13 which has a finger flap foldably attached to the top wall.

15. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of containers in two rows, with a top and bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. an exiting end having a bottom end flap with a height to prevent the containers contained in the bottom row from rolling out when the carton is placed on a horizontal surface and which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;

c. said exiting end having a tear line for forming a container dispenser, said tear line extending through the top panel at a distance spaced from the exiting end and extending at an angle through each side panel towards the exiting ends to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap at a distance greater from the top panel than the bottom panel, said tear line extending through each side end flap at a distance from the bottom panel approximately equal to the height of the bottom end flap so that an opening for dispensing containers is formed when the tear line is torn, said bottom end flap and the bottom portion of each side end flap remaining attached to the carton to provide structural integrity to the carton; and

d. a means for closing any end of the carton that is not an exiting end.

16. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of containers in only two rows, with a top and a bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;

c. said exiting end having a tear line for forming a container dispenser opening, said tear line extending through the top panel at a distance spaced from the exiting end, from said top panel through each side panel towards the exiting end to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap, and then through each side end flap, the tear line through each side end flap being at such a distance from the bottom panel that when the carton is on a horizontal surface and the dispenser is opened, the height of the side end flaps between the tear line therethrough and the bottom panel prevents the end container in the bottom row from accidentally rolling out of the carton, the dispenser remaining attached to the carton by the tear line through each side end flap, said dispenser forming a basket for catching containers exiting the carton; and

d. means for closing any end of the carton that is not an exiting end.

17. The carton of claim 16 in which the tear line in the top panel extends away from the exiting end for a portion of its extension across the top panel to form a finger flap foldably attached to the dispenser to facilitate commencing opening the dispenser in the top panel between the first and second containers from the exiting end.

18. The carton of claim 16 in which glue is used to close both ends of the carton.

19. The carton of claim 16 in which there is only one exiting end.

20. The carton of claim 16 in which both ends are exiting ends.

21. The carton of claim 16, wherein the containers are cylindrical, and said height of the side end flaps between the tear line therethrough and the bottom panel is less than the diameter of the end container in the bottom row.

22. The carton of claim 16, wherein the height of the bottom end flap is approximately equal to the height of the side end flaps between the tear line therethrough and the bottom panel.

23. An enclosed carton for carrying a plurality of containers in only two rows, with a top and bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;

c. said exiting end having a tear line for forming a container dispenser, said tear line extending through the top panel at a distance spaced from the exiting end, through each side panel towards the exiting end to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap, and then through each side end flap, the tear line through each side end flap being at such a distance from the bottom panel that when the carton is on a horizontal surface and the dispenser is opened, the height of the side end flaps between the tear line therethrough and the bottom panel prevents the end container in the bottom row from accidentally rolling out of the carton, said bottom end flap and the bottom portion of each side end flap remaining attached to the carton to provide structural integrity to the carton; and

d. a means for closing any end of the carton that is not an exiting end.

24. The carton of claim 23 which can only carry six (6) containers in each row.

25. The carton of claim 23 in which the tear line through the top panel is generally parallel to the exiting end of the carton.

26. The carton of claim 23 in which the tear line in the top panel extends away from the exiting end for a portion of its extension across the top panel to form a finger flap foldably attached to the dispenser to facilitate commencing opening the dispenser in the top panel between the first and second containers from the exiting end.

27. The carton of claim 23 in which glue is used to close both ends of the carton.

28. The carton of claim 23 in which there is only one exiting end.

29. The carton of claim 23 in which both ends are exiting ends.

30. A dispenser for cartons for carrying a plurality of containers in only two rows, with a top and bottom row, with each container having a diameter, wherein said carton has two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end capable of permitting containers to exit the carton one at a time, the dispenser being a part of a carton comprising:

a. a bottom panel, a top panel and foldably attached adjoining side panels;

b. said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is attached by a fold line to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton; and

c. means for closing any non-exiting end of the carton wherein said dispenser is formed in the exiting end of the carton;

d. said dispenser having a top wall formed from a portion of the top panel adjacent the exiting end, side walls formed from a portion of each side panel adjacent the exiting end, each said side wall having an edge that extends towards the exiting end to a point on the foldable attachment of said side panel to a side end flap, said point being at a distance greater from the top panel than the bottom panel when the dispenser is a part of the carton, and when the dispenser is open it remains attached to the carton, said dispenser forming a basket for catching containers exiting the carton.

31. The dispenser of claim 30 which has a finger flap foldably attached to the top wall.

32. The dispenser of claim 30, wherein the height of the bottom end flap is approximately equal to the distance between said point and the bottom panel.

33. A carton for carrying a plurality of containers, which containers are of equal diameters and are aligned in only two rows, with a top and a bottom row, the carton having two ends, at least one of which is an exiting end for selectively dispensing the containers, the carton comprising:

a bottom panel, a top panel and two foldably attached adjoining, side panels;

said exiting end having a bottom end flap which is foldably attached to the bottom panel, a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel, and closure means for attaching said flaps together to close the exiting end of the carton;

said exiting end having a tear line for forming a container dispenser opening, said tear line extending through the top panel at a distance spaced from the top end flap at the exiting end, said tear line extending through each side panel to the attachment of said side panel with a side end flap, and then through each side end flap, the tear line through each side end flap being at a distance from the bottom panel which is less than the diameter of a container.

34. The carton of claim 33, in which the tear line in the top panel extends away from the exiting end for a portion of its extension through the top panel to form a finger flap.

35. The carton of claim 34, wherein the finger flap is located in the top panel between the first and second containers from the exiting end.

36. The carton of claim 33, in which the closure means comprises glue.

37. The carton of claim 33, in which there is only one exiting end.

38. The carton of claim 33, in which both ends are exiting ends.

39. The carton of claim 33, and a closed end opposite said exiting end.

40. The carton of claim 33, and a closed end having a bottom end flap which is foldably attached to the bottom panel a top end flap foldably attached to the top panel, a side end flap foldably attached to each side panel and closure means for attaching said flaps together to close the closed end of the carton.

41. The carton of claim 40, and a flap defined adjacent to said tear line.

42. The carton of claim 40, said tear line running across said top panel in a direction substantially parallel to said exiting end, then deviating from said parallel direction to define a flap which is adjacent to said tear line.

43. An enclosed carton for enclosing containers, each having identical diameters and which are configured in only two rows, and for selectively dispensing the containers, the carton having a first end and a second end, and comprising:

a top panel, a first side panel foldably attached to a first side of said top panel, a second side panel foldably attached to a second side of said top panel, and a bottom panel foldably attached to both the first side panel and to the second side panel;

at the first end of the carton, a first bottom flap foldably attached to said bottom panel, a first side flap foldably attached to said first side panel, a second side flap foldably attached to said second side panel and a first top flap foldably attached to said top panel;

closure means for attaching together said carton flaps at said first end;

at the second end of the carton, a second bottom flap foldably attached to said bottom panel, a third side flap foldably attached to said first side panel, a fourth side flap foldably attached to said second side panel and a second top flap foldably attached to said top panel;

closure means for attaching together said carton flaps at said second end;

a tear line defined in said carton nearer to said first end than to said second end, said tear line extending across said top panel from said first side panel to said second side panel, said tear line also extending across said first side panel to said first side flap and across said second side panel to said second side flap;

said tear line then extending across said first side flap and across said second side flap to define a dispenser at said first end which can be selectively removed from said carton along said tear line to leave first and second side flap portions;

said carton including a bottom end structure comprising said first bottom end flap and said first and second side flap portions, said bottom end structure having a height which is less than the diameter of a container.

44. The carton of claim 43, in which the tear line in the top panel extends away from the first end for a portion of its extension across the top panel to form a finger flap to facilitate commencing opening the dispenser.

45. The carton of claim 44, wherein the finger flap is located in the top panel between the first and second containers from the first end.

46. The carton of claim 43, in which the closure means comprises glue.

47. The carton of claim 43, and a closed end opposite said exiting end.

48. The carton of claim 43, and third top flap attached to said top panel at said first end.

49. The carton of claim 48, and a fourth top flap attached to said top panel at said second end.

50. The carton of claim 48, and a finger flap defined adjacent to said tear line.

51. The carton of claim 50, said finger flap defined on said top panel and attached to said container dispenser.

52. The carton of claim 43, said tear line running across said top panel in a direction substantially parallel to said exiting end, then deviating from said parallel direction to define a flap which is adjacent to said tear line and attached to said dispenser.